Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-11-10


possible to discover whether or not the ve
hicc hnd, once agnin, turned from It's course
down this lane into ono CT tho numerous and
still smaller by-lanes that led into Il on
either hand.
With patience he still pursued the path
until " began to ascend abruptly, and ended
ht last in a clearing.
A broad, grassy plot lay stretched out be.
fore him. Beyond It was huge mass OF
tablc-roclx Then there seemed 10 como O
stoep prccipico.
He walked to the cliffs edge.
Was II "a fancyi Or did he hear cnrringc-
wbcols crashing over the stones below
| Surely, that was n laugh that smotc upon
his car, just now. He listened intently.
But, hol he could hear nothing except the
wind, signing through the pines, and the
splashing waters Of brook, babbling in tho
vale below.
Tho moon had now arisen in all its silvcry
snlondor, For miles and miles around he
looked over n level valley, watcrcd by
streams and dotted with lakes that glittcred
In the moOnbcams
At his feet, several yards below, was q
broad terrace that seemed TO fringe the side
Of tho prccipcc its entire length and TO
form the basis Of a rough cariiagc-road.
On the terrace, directly beneath him, lay
somcthng giittcring in the moons rays. II
attracted hia attention and aroused his curl
osiii. Slowly, he lowered himself from
rock 20 rock, and, arriving on tho terrace,
started In surprise; for this time no was
not mistslScn. Hero was the distinct and
fresh mark Of wheels. His heart beat more
quickly.
Going TO the spot where no had FIRST seen
tho sparkle, he found jcwel-handlcd
palette knife lying in the grass.
With the inspiration Of a man whose mind
was on the alert, he saw all at n glance.
here Il was she had been painting. Those
whccl-tracks were made by the wagon that
had escaped him. This was her palette
knife which the careless servants had
dropped, or overlooked. He wiped the dow
from the bright blade and put the knifo in
his pocket
Following the wagon-traclSs towards the
left, he found, not much farther on "a dainty
lace handkerchief
"Luck has at last come TO me" he said,
aloud, putting the handkerchief in his pocket
with the knife.
Then il occurred TO him her name might
be upon H. He looked again at IT, In the
clear light OF the moon he could distinguish
an "N,n woven delcatcly in the center. NJ
For what did N. standl Nora, Nancy, Nan
ME, Ncttic, Nelly, Natalici He racllcd his
brain for all the names beginning with N,
but mono so pleased him as Natalie. In his
excited state, this name would not away
flrn him, and kept fitting through his
brain, as he passed rapidly down the rUad,
that now descended. The brook, that he lad
heard in the vale below, came nearer. He
had no doubt this was the stream that
fnA the ftasl rvhrVa Al raf hf. 1fttsv-
ing sharply to the right, the brook thch fol-
lowed the windings Of the principal
thoroughfare Walking briskly along, the
man, as he expected, soon came to the we'll
remembered pool
Yes! here it was that she had stood be
side her horse; there was the stone on
which she had stept, when rcmountlrg mm,
two hours before; and yoader, the clump Of
bushes that had concealed her unsus pcctcd
observer
He stopped TO drink, for he WAS thirsty,
and fovcrish with excitement.
As he rose something icll from hrs pocket
into tho water. It was the palette-knife.
Eagerly he snatchcd il from the grasp Of
his friend the brook, saying:
"Not 40 fast, MASTER brooSlct. We both
may admire the same woman, but have the
prior claim upon this palette knife"
Drying II again, he was about TO put II
carefully away once more, when moon
beam foil brilliantly upon the knife. Was it
imagination' Or did he see a.bar Of music,
engraved upon tho golden handlcl
Lighting match, he held the flame over
the knife. Yes, he was right Engraved
most cxquisitcly, in minute characters, were
the first few bars Of his favorite Addio, a
song that ho had heard many times in
America, and one that always strangely af-
fccted him. The words seemed To reflect his
own monotonOus life:
"Hush voice from the far-awayl
IL ston end loarn;' it seems TO say;
AN the moTrows shall be as to-day"
On the opposite side Of the handle, in jew
elcd relief, were the words Natalie, from
OttO.n
Aafaie' His heart lcaped. Hero was
proof positive that bis first prcscntiment
was correct.